A substitute teacher in Louisiana has been arrested and charged with five counts of menacing after allegedly triggering false active shooter alerts at five schools within the Caddo Parish School District. Lytonja Barfield, 58, was taken into custody Wednesday following an investigation by the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office.
Don Gibbs, the school board's director of security, informed investigators that Barfield, a substitute teacher, is accused of using the district's emergency management system to report active shooters at multiple school sites. School officials initiated security protocols in response to the alerts to ensure the safety of students and staff while verifying the reports.
The Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office confirmed that the alerts were determined to be false, and Barfield was identified as the individual responsible. The district stated that Barfield is no longer employed by them and was not assigned to any school site at the time of the incident. The school district is cooperating with the sheriff's office investigation.
The sheriff's office did not specify which five schools were affected or detail the exact security measures implemented. A detective from the sheriff's office located and questioned Barfield, subsequently arresting her and transporting her to the Caddo Correctional Center.
Authorities have not disclosed a potential motive for the alleged false alerts. The investigation is ongoing. The sheriff's office noted that such false reports can disrupt school operations, prompt emergency responses, and cause fear among students, parents, school employees, and the wider community.